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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

'Busan offers everything to motivate your workers'

A view of Busan Harbor Bridge and the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal. / Courtesy of Busan Tourism OrganizationAdministrative support, tourism resources attract MICE visitorsBy Jung Min-hoMajor corporations sometimes offer their employees free travel as a way to motivate them. This is one of the components of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions), which has increasingly become an important part of Busan’s tourism industry.Over the past few years, the city of skyscrapers and pristine beaches has emerged as one of Asia’s most attractive destinations for companies seeking such rewards.The Busan Tourism Organization (BTO) said it offers various support services to help them develop and enjoy their tailor-made tour programs.For example, when Amway China brought nearly 15,000 employees to Busan three years ago, the BTO secured the Busan International Film Festival’s outdoor stage for their event.“Basically, the idea was to make them feel like they were attending a party for movie stars,” a BTO official said. “Many had

Dec 11, 2016
'Busan offers everything to motivate your workers'

Peaceful days, colorful nights: Hanoi

Tourists pray at the Huong Tich Grotto located near the Huong Pagoda. The vast complex in the area encompasses Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone of the Huong Tich mountains in Hanoi, Vietnam. / Korea Times photos by Jun Ji-hyeBy Jun Ji-hyeHANOI, Vietnam — From peaceful mountains, rivers and temples to the colorful neon lights of pubs and clubs, Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has much to offer, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia.The long-historied city, which officially marked the first 1,000 years of its establishment in 2010, boasts about 1,170 historic sites, such as Duong Lam Ancient Village, in addition to about 1,300 traditional handicraft villages, such as Van Phuc Silk Village, according to the Hanoi Department of Tourism.Tourists can also enjoy a number of delicious dishes, including bun cha — a dish of fatty grilled pork and noodles that became a worldwide sensation in May after U.S. President Barack Obama was photographed eating it at a Hanoi restaurant with celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain, who is k

Dec 8, 2016
Peaceful days, colorful nights: Hanoi

Political satire in vogue after Choi scandal

Artist Hwang Hyo-chang’s “Is This a Nation?” describes President Park Geun-hye as a puppet controlled by Choi Soon-sil. The painting questions if President Park has the appropriate managerial skills to lead a nation and is fit for the top job of the government. / Courtesy of the artistBy Kang Hyun-kyung Two-time presidential candidate Huh Kyoung-young, 69, rose to online stardom earlier this week, for “his supernatural ability to foresee the future” of the Park Geun-hye government four years ago.During an interview with social network news service WIKITREE on Dec. 27, 2012, Huh said the five-year tenure of the then newly elected President Park would be cut short in the face of mounting public calls to resign.“I think Park won’t be able to stay in office for her entire tenure,” he said. According to him, Park would face an unspecified outstanding problem which is so grave that the people would stand up against her and candlelit protests calling for her resignation would continue until she stepped down. She would be forced to le

Dec 8, 2016
Political satire in vogue after Choi scandal

HOTEL LOBBY

 Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelSheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel offers “Mellow Winter” package for guests until Feb. 28.The package includes a one-night stay, two cups of hot chocolate for takeout, breakfast for two, a Sheraton blanket and access to the Sheraton fitness and swimming pool. The hot chocolate can be picked up at the Lobby Lounge Bar. The package costs 220,000 won, excluding tax and service charge. It is unavailable between Dec. 23 and 31, due to guests for Christmas and year-end events. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2211-2100.Grand Ambassador SeoulGrand Ambassador Seoul will host the fifth hotel art fair between Dec. 16 and 18. More than 100 artists from across Korea will present their works in rooms located on the fifth through seventh floors. Those who donate at the site to the NGO Save the Children will get tickets for a raffle to win a night at the hotel and restaurant vouchers. There’s no entrance fee to the art fair, and those who come with an invitation will get a 15 percent discount at hotel restaurants and the spa and

Dec 1, 2016
HOTEL LOBBY

Florist talks about Christmas decoration at Grand Hyatt

Florist Margie Lindsay has been in charge of the Grand Hyatt Seoul’s Christmas decorations for 26 years. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt SeoulBy Kim Se-jeong Grand Hyatt Seoul is renowned for both its luxury and warmth, but also among the elements that contribute to its success is the hotel’s attention to detail, a good example of which is how the hotel decorates its Christmas tree.Margie Lindsay, a florist from Adelaide, Australia, has been flying to Seoul for the past 26 years to decorate the hotel’s Christmas tree.She spent the last two weeks, decorating the 10-meter-high tree with glass baubles, glass and crystal snowflakes and stars crystal, porcelain reindeers, wooden Christmas birds and lights. Besides, she also adorned the hotel’s lobby, deli shop and flower shop with Christmas decorations, including tiny fresh trees, candles, seasonal ornaments made with dogwood branches and magnolia leaves.“I try to have individuality to each place (hotel property),” Lindsay said during an interview, adding that “I take into account the environment (

Dec 1, 2016
Florist talks about Christmas decoration at Grand Hyatt

Where to dine in Seoul on Christmas Day

Four Seasons Hotel’s buffet restaurant, the Market Kitchen, will offer brunch and dinner onChristmas Eve and Christmas Day. / Courtesy of Four Seasons HotelBy Kim Se-jeongHotel restaurants in Seoul will offer various food, drinks and entertainment on Dec. 24 and 25. Make sure to shop around and make reservations, because they usually book out fast.Four Seasons Hotel’s buffet restaurant, the Market Kitchen, will offer brunch and dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, featuring oysters, foie gras, grilled lobster and turkey. Brunch will cost 75,000 won per person, while dinner will cost 118,000 won. For more information and reservations, call (02) 6388-5530.Grand Hilton Seoul Buffet restaurant will serve Christmas dinner on the nights of Dec. 23, 24 and 25, featuring lobster, lamb, steak, turkey and grilled abalone. The dinner will cost 100,000 won per person. The restaurant will also serve Christmas Day brunch featuring mushroom soup, grilled lobster, tenderloin steak and a salad bar for 85,000 won per person. For more information and reservations, call (02)

Dec 1, 2016
Where to dine in Seoul on Christmas Day

Coldplay, Metallica, Journey, Jeff Beck coming to Seoul

U.K. rock band Coldplay will hold its first Seoul concert on April 15, 2017. / Photo by Sam Neill / Courtesy of Live Nation KoreaBy Park Jin-hai It only took minutes for the British rock band Coldplay to sell over 45,000 advance tickets for its first concert in Seoul in April.Online servers crashed as 900,000 fans simultaneously logged in at ticketing sites to book Coldplay’s concert tickets right after they went on sale.The band’s concert made headlines again as many celebrities have responded. Actress Park Shin-hye expressed her disappointment on Instagram for not getting a ticket, saying “Coldplay, fail ... sob. I want to go ...” Singer-actress Younha also posted online that she failed to get a ticket.After the tickets were all sold out, they were resold on online used markets for as high as 1 million won.As the New Year is approaching, music fans are rushing to buy concert tickets for 2017. The big four artists to perform in Korea early next year are Coldplay, Metallica, Journey and Jeff Beck.Coldplay, a four-member alternative rock band which is

Dec 1, 2016
Coldplay, Metallica, Journey, Jeff Beck coming to Seoul

Michelin star chef Chef's lifelong service leads to top Michelin award

Chef Kim Seong-il, chief of the culinary team of The Shilla Seoul’s Korean restaurant La Yeon, poses in front of the restaurant. / Courtesy of The Shilla SeoulThis is the fourth in a series of interviews with chefs at Michelin star-awarded restaurants in Korea ― ED.By Yun Suh-youngIt was 28 years ago that chef Kim Seong-il joined The Shilla Seoul as a new employee. At the time, right before the 1988 Olympics was held in Seoul, hotels were busy recruiting new staff in their restaurants to cater to the influx of foreign guests. That's when chef Kim, now the chief of the culinary team of The Shilla Seoul's Korean restaurant La Yeon, joined."I sent applications to several hotels at the time and was called in for interviews by many of them. But the dates were all at the same time, on the same day. I guess hotels purposefully did that to compete. So I was mulling over which interview to attend and my parents told me to go to Shilla because it's part of the Samsung Group. That's how I ended up here," said Kim during an interview with The Korea Times."My parents were so proud

Nov 27, 2016
[Michelin star chef] Chef's lifelong service leads to top Michelin award

Michelin star chef Trials and tribulations pay off with 2 stars

Chef Kwon Woo-joong is in deep thought in his restaurant kitchen before testing a new menu to be released for the winter season. / Korea Times photo by Yun Suh-youngThis is the second in a series of interviews with chefs at Michelin star-awarded restaurants in Korea. — ED.By Yun Suh-youngA tinge of sadness and admiration hit this reporter’s heart when hearing about the hardship and effort owner chef Kwon Woo-joong of Korean fine dining restaurant Kwon Sook Soo went through to reach where he is now.Kwon’s restaurant snatched two stars from the reputed Michelin Guide, Nov. 7, the highest number received by a chef-owned Korean restaurant, since the opening of Kwon Sook Soo in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, in July last year.His story is reminiscent of lyrics from Disney’s animation “The Princess and the Frog” where protagonist Tiana, a young aspiring chef, works as a waitress until she saves enough money to start her own restaurant and finally does open it with money saved up from hard work.“There’s been trials and tribulations, you know

Nov 24, 2016
[Michelin star chef] Trials and tribulations pay off with 2 stars

HOTEL LOBBY

The Ritz-Carlton SeoulThe Ritz-Carlton Seoul is offering four packages before it starts renovations in January next year. The Stay with Us package includes a one-night stay in Superior Deluxe room and a toner and serum gift set from French beauty brand, Isomarine and costs 215,000 won. In addition, first 20 guests will receive a complimentary Ritz-Carlton, Seoul-branded blanket.The Gourmet with Us package includes a one-night stay in Superior Deluxe room, lunch at either The Garden, Chee Hong or Hanazono. The Garden’s menu features authentic Caesar salad and vongole spaghetti; while Chee Hong offers seafood salad, sweet and sour pork and seafood jajangmyeon. Hanazono’s menu offers a number of appetizers, three varieties of sashimi, stewed sea bream, sushi, seafood nabe udon and fruit. The package costs 260,000 won, plus an extra 50,000 won for an additional dining guest at Hanazono. The first 100 guests will receive a tea set from French kitchenware brand Le Creuset.The Enjoy with Us package includes one-night in Superior Deluxe room along with a family party menu, R

Nov 24, 2016
HOTEL LOBBY
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